Year 5’s Spring residential field trip to Osmington Bay in Dorset was the perfect combination of intellectual stretch, fun and physical challenge in a packed week of activities.

The 40 students were there to study the fascinating geography of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. Their location was the stretch of coastline from the Isle of Purbeck to Portland Bill which holds unique geological formations that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. All features can be found close together and in geological sequence for easy study.

During the trip the girls learnt a great deal about geology which is not covered much in primary schools. They worked in a variety of different teams and learned skills to help them co-operate and collaborate successfully with anyone in their year group.

There were plenty of outdoor experiences, including many additional challenging physical activities to build confidence and teamwork skills – such as rope swings, zip wires and raft building – plus a six-mile coastal walk.

The trip also stretched the students in other ways. For many, it was the longest time – four nights at the PGL Centre – that they had ever been separated from their parents. For others it was a task in independence and self-care as they were responsible for organising themselves on the trip, looking after their belongings, cleaning their dormitories and keeping track of their own timetables.

Here are a few of the girls’ comments on their experience:

“The experience was amazing because all the activities were really enjoyable and I was surprised by how much outdoor fun I had!” Anika

“It was really fun because everybody at the centre was friendly and they helped you. They gave the place a really caring atmosphere.” Anna

“The environment was warm and friendly and the instructors assisted you with all the activities. It was loads of fun!” Shanna

“The zip wire was very scary but also enjoyable at the same time. I loved it!” Maya